Charter school going online

State board OKs virtual elementary despite opposition

In a tense and dramatic meeting, the Illinois State Board of Education gave approval for the state's first virtual public elementary school to open its cyberspace doors this fall.

The board voted 5-4 to approve the controversial Chicago Virtual Charter School, acting against the state school superintendent's recommendation and against the opposition of the powerful Chicago Teachers Union.

Board members listened to concerns about computers replacing teachers and virtual schoolchildren not getting enough socialization. But the slim majority ultimately concluded that a cyberspace classroom might give some children the chance to succeed where traditional school has failed. "This may not work, but there are kids we're leaving behind every single day," said board member Andrea Brown, who voted to approve the virtual school.

Likewise, Board Chairman Jesse Ruiz said he was persuaded by compelling letters he received from parents pleading for an alternative approach for their children.

"It is difficult to ignore those letters," Ruiz said.

After the vote, Chicago Teachers Union President Marilyn Stewart vowed to "take swift and appropriate action to stop or block the opening of this school."

The union did not specify the action it would take, but Chicago Public Schools general counsel Patrick Rocks said "it is very unlikely there could be a viable legal challenge."

Chicago Public Schools had approved the school's application prior to it going before the state board.

Despite the controversy, the K-8 virtual school is forging ahead with a scheduled opening on Sept. 13.

About 300 families have already filled out applications, and the school can accept another 300 students, said Sharon Hayes, the head of the school. Judging on the response so far, the school will serve a wide variety of children--from gifted to special education students, to public and private school students as well as children previously schooled at home, Hayes said.

Once their children are enrolled, families will get desktop computers, workbooks and other materials to begin virtual school. Once a week, children will be required to attend a downtown Chicago learning center housed at DePaul University. Children will interact regularly with teachers through e-mails, conferences and workshops as well as at the learning center.

Virtual schools exist around the country, more commonly for high school students than grade school students, but they have attracted controversy. States such as Indiana, Tennessee and New York prohibit cyber charter schools, and South Carolina has a prohibition against "home-based" instruction at charter schools, according to a 2005 review of online school programs across the country.

Illinois law states that charter schools must be "non-home based," which the teacher's union argued would restrict the state from approving the virtual school. State Supt. Randy Dunn recommended the board deny the virtual school's application based on the law's language.

But board members and proponents of the virtual school said that charter school laws enacted in the 1990s did not anticipate the growth of technology that has made virtual schools possible.

Rocks, the attorney for Chicago Public Schools, said the restrictions on "home-based" charter schools mushroomed from concerns that home schools were trying to become charter schools simply to get public dollars. He presented letters from state lawmakers who voted on Illinois' charter school law, and said their intent was not to block Internet-based schooling.

Charter schools are public schools given more flexibility in staffing, curriculum and other areas. They also get public funding per student, just like other public schools.

Board members who voted against approving the virtual charter school cited concerns about reducing the role of teachers.

Board member David Fields asked colleagues what they remember most about their own schooling. "We remember teachers. We remember teachers who had a tremendous impact on us," he said.